Flames tore through a Phoenix strip mall on Wednesday, as firefighters worked tirelessly to quell a blaze that erupted midday. The fire broke out near Central Avenue and, Baseline Road around 12:30 p.m. and rapidly sent thick smoke billowing into the sky, according to a FOX 10 Phoenix report.
Phoenix Fire Department crews were forced to take a defensive stance against the fire, as "large volumes of smoke and fire dictated that crews move to the exterior of the building," the fire department stated. Firefighting ladders were utilized to unleash torrents of water from above, in an effort to suppress the flames and prevent them from spreading to adjacent structures.
The determined efforts of the firefighters seemed to have paid off, as no injuries were reported from the incident. Captain Sean Dubois assured the public that there were no casualties, telling ABC 15, "We went ahead and made sure that everyone was out of the building and it was safe, no victims were in there. We were also in there attacking the fire."
The fire, which included a salon and, a pawn shop within its ravages, generated concern among local residents. Patricia Sanchez, who witnessed the conflagration while visiting a family member nearby, expressed her worry to ABC 15, "It's sad that a lot of people are going to lose their stuff, hopefully they can get it replaced."
While Phoenix firefighters maintained a presence at the charred site to ensure the fire's complete extinguishment, the cause behind the devastating event remains a subject for investigation. As the embers cool and the community takes stock, the strip mall's future hangs in uncertainty.
